Godolphin's Lyric of Light maintained her unbeaten status in brave fashion in Newmarket's Group 1 Shadwell Fillies Mile and looks set to go into the winter break as one of the leading contenders for both next year's 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks, writes Elliot Slater.
Supplemented into the contest having not been amongst the original entries for the prestigious event, Sheik Mohammed's horseracing judgement proved spot on as the daughter of Street Cry came through from the back of the field with a steady challenge under Frankie Dettori that eventually carried her into the lead past the brave Royal Ascot heroine Samitar to record a head verdict, the pair pulling four-and-a-half lengths clear of the third-placed Firdaws, giving the form a very solid feel. Even those following the Breeders Cup betting will have been impressed.
The original impression from the win was that Lyric of Light has everything you would look for in an Oaks filly, and post-race comments from winning handler Mahmood al Zarooni and Dettori did nothing to dissuade those interested in taking the 12/1 on offer to change their mind. Indeed, Dettori's observation that the scopey filly got unbalanced going down into the dip at the two furlong from home marker and was only able to gather herself together in the nick of time, rings alarm bells over the Godolphin star taking her chance over course and distance in the 1000 Guineas next May – a race for which she is also quoted at ante-post odds of 12/1.
The winner of a Newmarket maiden on her debut on the July course before following up with a brave success over Fallen For You in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting, Lyric of Light is a filly who only does just enough to win and therefore it remains fascinating to see just how good she is and how far her talent can take her.